Smiler (album)

Smiler
Studio album by
Rod Stewart
Released27 September 1974
RecordedNovember 1973-May 1974
StudioMorgan Studios, London and The Wick, Richmond
Genre
Length42:24
LabelMercury
ProducerRod Stewart
Rod Stewart chronology
Sing It Again Rod
(1973) 		Smiler
(1974) 		Atlantic Crossing
(1975)
Singles from Smiler
  1. "Farewell"
    Released: 27 September 1974[1] (UK)
  2. "Mine for Me"
    Released: November 1974 (US)

Smiler is the fifth solo album by English rock singer-songwriter Rod Stewart. It was released on 27 September 1974[2] by Mercury Records. It reached number 1 in the UK album chart, and number 13 in the US.

The album includes the UK top ten single "Farewell", co-written by Stewart and long time collaborator Martin Quittenton. While the single was also released in the US, it was its B-side "Mine for Me", a song written for Stewart by Paul and Linda McCartney[3] that became a minor hit there, reaching number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4]

The album also includes covers of Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke and Bob Dylan songs, as well as a duet with Elton John of John's song "Let Me Be Your Car". Stewart also covered Carole King's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" where 'Woman' is switched to 'Man'. The release of the album was held up for five months due to legal problems between Mercury Records and Warner Bros. Records.[1]

Musicians appearing on the album included members of Stewart's band Faces, as well as frequent collaborators Martin Quittenton (guitars), Pete Sears (bass & keyboards), and Mickey Waller (drums).

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Christgau's Record GuideB−[6]
Rolling Stone(mixed)[7]
Džuboks(mixed)[8]

Track listing

  1. "Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller" (Chuck Berry) – 3:43
  2. "Lochinvar" (Pete Sears) – 0:25
  3. "Farewell" (Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton) – 4:34
  4. "Sailor" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:35
  5. "Bring It On Home to Me/You Send Me" (Sam Cooke) – 3:57
  6. "Let Me Be Your Car" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) – 4:56
  7. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler) – 3:54
  8. "Dixie Toot" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:27
  9. "Hard Road" (Harry Vanda, George Young) – 4:27
  10. "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" Instrumental (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) – 1:32
  11. "Girl from the North Country" (Bob Dylan) – 3:52
  12. "Mine for Me" (Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney) – 4:02

A 1991 CD compilation called 'back 2 back – 2 for 1' combined Smiler with Gasoline Alley. However, tracks 2, 9 and 10, were left out on this release.

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1974–75) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[10] 8
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[11] 11
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[12] 28
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[13] 65
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[14] 29
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[15] 19
UK Albums (OCC)[16] 1
US Billboard 200[17] 13

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Mulligan, Brian, ed. (21 September 1974). "Stewart LP Gets Push" (PDF). Music Week. London, England, U.K.: Billboard Publications, Inc.: 1. ISSN 0265-1548. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2023. Phonogram has lined up a major promotion campaign for the release of Rod Stewart's long-delayed album, Smiler, and new single on September 27
  2. ^ Mulligan, Brian, ed. (21 September 1974). "Stewart LP Gets Push" (PDF). Music Week. London, England, U.K.: Billboard Publications, Inc.: 1. ISSN 0265-1548. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2023. Phonogram has lined up a major promotion campaign for the release of Rod Stewart's long-delayed album, Smiler, and new single on September 27
  3. ^ "Mine For Me" The Paul McCartney Project. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  4. ^ "Rod Stewart - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  5. ^ AllMusic review
  6. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 13 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  7. ^ Rolling Stone review
  8. ^ Konjović, S. "Rod Stewart – Smiler". Džuboks (in Serbian) (6 (second series)). Gornji Milanovac: Dečje novine: 24.
  9. ^ "Smiler - Rod Stewart | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 295. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 3896a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  12. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  13. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  14. ^ "Charts.nz – Rod Stewart – Smiler". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  15. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Rod Stewart – Smiler". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  16. ^ "Official Albums Chart on 13/19/1974 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  17. ^ "Rod Stewart Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  18. ^ "British album certifications – Rod Stewart – Smiler". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Smiler Rod Stewart in the "Search:" field.
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